Bath Half Tips from David

The Bath Half is fast approaching on March 15th, and we know many of our member organisations will have runners fundraising for them in the race.

Our Social Prescribing Project Manager, David Jenkins, is a keen runner himself, having completed the London Marathon, Bristol Half and Bath Half previously, as well as many others.

Please hear from David, an experienced runner, on some top tips for individuals running the Bath Half on Sunday 15th March. Please note this is informal advice, and is only my own personal experience. All runners are advised to refer to the participant guide provided by London Marathon events. 

Pre Race:

• You are unlikely to gain more fitness at this stage, and getting to the start line fit and healthy should be number one priority. Trying to chase fitness is unlikely to help and may leave you feeling tired.

• With one weekend to go, this is the perfect opportunity to test out your chosen running clothing & shoes.  This upcoming weekend put your race day outfit on and go for a spin. 

• Test out your fuelling strategy. Trying new gels or food on race day is not a good idea. This weekend test your pre race fuelling options (porridge, bagels, rice) before heading out for your run. On the run test out any chosen gels or food items. For all those who have already doing this in training runs you are a step ahead of the game. 

• Try to prioritise sleep and eat a healthy diet leading up to the race. The evening before there will likely be race nerves, so banking a few good night's sleep prior to this helps. 

• As your training volume is likely to be less, continue to consume the same amount of food and this is a smart way to carb load. 

• Please read the Bath Half Participant guide for all event specific queries. It is advised to get to the race village early to skip the queues and ensure there is no additional stress. Keep warm and any throw over clothes can be left at the start to be donated to charity.

During Race: 

• Soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the occasion. For me it is one of the best events in the calendar year. The buzz around the city is electric.

• Look out for  water stations and be sure to take advantage of water at every station. For those who won't stop at the stations, cups make it difficult to consume water. One tip is to pinch the cup to create a 'funnel'. This is certainly not an easy task but the key is not to panic.

• Use gels or other food items as per your training. It is tempting to consume sweets and go off plan but your stomach won't thank you.

• Remember there it is a two lap course, don't go out too quick and run within your limits. Please refer to course map and information within the participant guide.

Finishing the race:

• Be proud of your achievement. Finishing a half marathon is an incredible feat. 

• Try to get some warm clothes on to ensure your body temperature doesn't drop.

• Celebrate with friends, family and the wider running community. 

• Take a week of rest (unless this is warm up race for upcoming events ).

• Take on some post race nutrition and have a relaxing afternoon.

Any questions between now and race day David is open to a conversation: david@3sg.org.uk